GRETCHEN MOTTET Sculptural and Functional Porcelain Vessels

My first introduction to working with Porcelain was as an undergraduate at the University of Puget Sound under the instruction of Ken Stevens and John McQuistion in the late 70’s. I was immediately drawn to the smooth texture, pliability, and clean white surface. After much initial frustration with creating wheel-thrown forms to my satisfaction I began carving small hand-formed shapes of clay. This led to a long series of quite small, delicately carved abstract sculptural objects. My current work is really an extension of my initial encounters with the medium primarily using the thrown vessel as my canvas.

After many years of experimenting with a variety of mediums (photography, painting, drawing, printmaking, glass, silversmithing and jewelry design) I feel I am back to my initial aesthetic roots. Returned to the mud.

The wheel-thrown vessel allows my artistic expression to be more understandable, gives it a sense of purpose, a connection to utility but created as an individual art piece. Ceramic artists have bandied about for years on the functional or sculptural – Craft or Art Issue. I simply love creating beautiful objects, things that sing to me.

Each piece has its own voice, beginning at the potters wheel. I allow the ideas of the moment to determine the outcome at each stage. These are not production pieces. I work very intuitively but precisely at the same time. It is a meditative process for me.

Technically the process has required much study and practice. I am often amazed at the obvious influences of a variety of cultural styles in my work. Often “keeping it simple” is the most difficult task in life and in Art.

Gretchen Mottet

Blue Hesik

Art Process Studio, Tacoma, WA, 98446